Although references are made to types of sea creature by other Roman authors, it is from Pliny the Elder’s Natural History (Nātūrālis historia) where we have by far the greatest source of vocabulary.
[i] the most
beautiful descriptions of a dolphin, behaving 2000 years ago in exactly the
same way as they do now …
Vēlōcissimum
omnium animālium, nōn sōlum marīnōrum, est delphīnus, ōcior
volucre, ācrior tēlō …
The swiftest of all animals, not
only (of the) marine ones, is the dolphin, swifter than a
bird, sharper than a weapon, …
Delphīnus nōn
hominī tantum amīcum animal, vērum et mūsicae artī, mulcētur symphōniae cantū,
set praecipuē hydraulī sonō. hominem nōn expavēscit ut aliēnum, obviam nāvigiīs
venit, adlūdit exultāns, certat etiam et quamvīs plēna praeterit vēla.
The dolphin is not only a friendly animal to man, but also to the art of music, being soothed by the song of a symphony, but especially by the sound of water. It does not fear man as a stranger, it comes to meet ships, plays with them joyfully, even competes and passes by even though the sails are full.
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